Mr. Bean (full name Rowan Julian Bean) is the titular protagonist. He is a slow-witted, sometimes ingenious, selfish, and generally likable buffoon who brings various unusual schemes and connivances to everyday tasks.

Contents

Background

Mr. Bean lives alone in his small flat in Highbury, North London, and he's almost always seen in his trademark tweed jacket and skinny red tie. Mr. Bean rarely speaks, and when he does, it's generally only a few mumbled words, which are in a comically low-pitched voice. He's been shown in the first episode to have a strong knowledge of trigonometry.

His ingenuity often leads him to finding ridiculous and impractical solutions to these problems (such as painting a room by putting fireworks into a paint can). Bean will often get confused at the world, not understanding what's going on. He's also quite selfish — if someone is doing something he doesn't like, he gets very agitated. He also doesn't like people taking his things.

Mr. Bean often seems unaware of basic aspects of the way the world works, and the program usually features his attempts at what would normally be considered simple tasks, such as going swimming, redecorating, or going to church. The humor largely comes from his original (and often absurd) solutions to problems and his total disregard for others when solving them, his pettiness, and occasional malevolence.

Mr. Bean in the animated version of the show

The original TV show

At the beginning of episode 2 onwards, Bean falls from the sky in a beam of light, accompanied by a choir singing Ecce homo qui est faba (Behold the man who is a Bean). These opening sequences were initially in episodes 2 and 3, and they were intended by the producers to show his status as an "outcast cast into the spotlight". But later episodes showed Mr. Bean dropping from the night sky in a deserted London street against the backdrop of St. Paul's Cathedral. Rowan Atkinson himself has acknowledged that Bean "has a slightly outcast aspect to him".

Personality

Mr. Bean is often portrayed as a buffoon. He is obnoxious, crazy and sometimes seems stupid. Mr. Bean rarely speaks and when he does, only a mumbling voice comes out. He doesn't show much care to his girlfriend which was proven in many episodes (live-action and animated). Mr. Bean often pretends his teddy is real but he doesn't always treat Teddy nicely. Mr. Bean is also a pain to the Reliant Regal in loads of episodes becoming a running gag in the series. In a few occasions, Mr. Bean had been a bit kind but he rarely shows it. He also tends to hate Irma kissing him.

Clothing

Mr. Bean is mostly seen wearing a tweed suit, a white shirt, a thin red tie, trousers, and shoes. Occasionally, he'll change his outfit (often to suit the scene that he's in). He's sometimes seen holding a suitcase.

Quotes

Teddy! (when he thought that Teddy died in the Toy Airplane in Chocks Away)

NO!!!!! (When all of his neighbors were noisy in Neighborly Bean)

Trivia

His first name (he names himself Bean to others) and profession, if any, are never mentioned. Rowan Atkinson has said at the time of the first movie's release that he imagines Bean's first name to be Julian, thus making Julian Bean a reference to famous guitarist and lutenist Julien Bream.

In the first film adaption, the 'name' "Mr." appears on his passport in the "first name" field, and he is shown employed as a guard at London's National. In Mr. Bean's Holiday, however, his name is listed on his passport as "Rowan".)

He is known to have a criminal record due to the acts he has committed. These include:

(Accidentally) headbutting the Queen.

Vandalizing hotel property and wandering around the corridors naked.

Blowing up a car, littering and destroying a lady's shopping whilst trying to get back a golf ball.

However, he has not been cautioned or arrested over any of these, so the general idea is Mr Bean is allowed to get away with committing the acts.

Gallery

Popular Culture

In the 23rd season of the show Saturday Night Live. There was also the sketch called "Set Our Nanny Free" in the November 8, 1997 hosted by Jon Lovitz. Mr Bean was also featured in it & he was played by Norm MacDonald. He was seen in the studio playing his fingers pretending being in prison.